Tuscaloosa City Council, mayor displeased with Green Bear development for failure to communicate design changes

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 11:36 p.m.

Changes in the design of a downtown development have drawn criticism from Mayor Walt Maddox and the Tuscaloosa City Council.

Maddox led a grilling of Atlanta-based developer Chance Partners, which had come before the City Council on Tuesday seeking 11th-hour approval of design changes for Green Bear Lofts, the $11.5 million housing and retail project that was approved for construction in January.

The City Council elected to table a vote on the changes until next week. The delay will allow the city's Planning and Development Services to visit the site at the intersection of Greensboro Avenue and Paul W. Bryant Drive, assess the changes and report back.

Judd Bobolin, president and CEO of Chance Partners, said he took full responsibility for failing to update the City Council on the changes in the building's exterior.

“I don't have any good answers for you, and I apologize for that,” Bobolin said to the mayor and council. “Baring my soul in front of you isn't the ideal situation I'd want to be in.”

The changes to the building range from an increase in the amount of brick, which the City Council had previously requested, to the realignment of the roof to eliminate gables and parapets that city leaders said was a reflection of current and existing architecture.

Bobolin said problems with the project's prior general contractor led to delays and setbacks that required Chance Partners to step in and replace that company with Tuscaloosa-based Harrison Construction.

These delays prevented Green Bear Lofts from being complete in time for the University of Alabama's fall semester, and Chance Partners was forced to find nearby housing accommodations for students who had signed leases for the new housing development on the edge of downtown.

Many of the students were relocated to Crimson Student Living on 17th Street under the same terms of their Green Bear leases.

Christopher Kritzman, a partner and developer for Chance Partners, said leases for the retail spaces on the bottom floor are nearing completion.

These spaces are expected to be occupied by a dry cleaning service and Groucho's Deli, a sandwich franchise based in Columbia, S.C.

Construction on Green Bear is expected to be complete within the next two to three weeks, but officials with the city's Planning and Development Services said the company is proceeding at its own risk.

<p>Changes in the design of a downtown development have drawn criticism from Mayor Walt Maddox and the Tuscaloosa City Council.</p><p>Maddox led a grilling of Atlanta-based developer Chance Partners, which had come before the City Council on Tuesday seeking 11th-hour approval of design changes for Green Bear Lofts, the $11.5 million housing and retail project that was approved for construction in January.</p><p>The City Council elected to table a vote on the changes until next week. The delay will allow the city's Planning and Development Services to visit the site at the intersection of Greensboro Avenue and Paul W. Bryant Drive, assess the changes and report back.</p><p>Judd Bobolin, president and CEO of Chance Partners, said he took full responsibility for failing to update the City Council on the changes in the building's exterior.</p><p>“I don't have any good answers for you, and I apologize for that,” Bobolin said to the mayor and council. “Baring my soul in front of you isn't the ideal situation I'd want to be in.”</p><p>The changes to the building range from an increase in the amount of brick, which the City Council had previously requested, to the realignment of the roof to eliminate gables and parapets that city leaders said was a reflection of current and existing architecture.</p><p>Bobolin said problems with the project's prior general contractor led to delays and setbacks that required Chance Partners to step in and replace that company with Tuscaloosa-based Harrison Construction.</p><p>These delays prevented Green Bear Lofts from being complete in time for the University of Alabama's fall semester, and Chance Partners was forced to find nearby housing accommodations for students who had signed leases for the new housing development on the edge of downtown.</p><p>Many of the students were relocated to Crimson Student Living on 17th Street under the same terms of their Green Bear leases.</p><p>Christopher Kritzman, a partner and developer for Chance Partners, said leases for the retail spaces on the bottom floor are nearing completion.</p><p>These spaces are expected to be occupied by a dry cleaning service and Groucho's Deli, a sandwich franchise based in Columbia, S.C.</p><p>Construction on Green Bear is expected to be complete within the next two to three weeks, but officials with the city's Planning and Development Services said the company is proceeding at its own risk.</p>